Dexter Fowler Is Great Addition For Baltimore Orioles' Outfield

Even with spring training already underway, the Baltimore Orioles are still putting the finishing touches on their roster for the 2016 season. At the 11th hour, the Orioles managed to sign outfielder Dexter Fowler, who was somehow overlooked in free agency up to this point. He will be an important player for the Orioles and is exactly what Baltimore needed in the outfield.

The Orioles did well this offseason to re-sign Matt Wieters, Chris Davis and Darren O’Day. But merely retaining those players was never going to be enough to get Baltimore to the postseason with such a modest rotation, even if they sign Yovani Gallardo, and an outfield with no proven players other than Adam Jones. But the signing of Fowler marks a significant addition to the team’s lineup and outfield alignment in a way that has a chance to make a meaningful difference over the next three seasons.

With Fowler, the Orioles now have a proven leadoff hitter who can set the table for the team’s big bats like Davis, Jones, Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo. Fowler’s power should fit right in with Baltimore’s lineup, while his speed adds an element the Orioles were previously lacking. Defensively, Fowler is likely to make the move from center field to right field, where his range and arm strength will make him an asset.

Perhaps most importantly, Fowler fills one of two open spots in Baltimore’s outfield that the Orioles would have otherwise been forced to fill with a slew of unproven players. From among the likes of part-time player Nolan Reimold, rookie Dariel Alvarez and Korean rookie Hyun Soo Kim, the Orioles will have to fill their void in left field, but without Fowler they would have been forced to fill two outfield spots from that group of players.

With Fowler on board, the Baltimore outfield and the top of the lineup are in far better shape than they were previously. He represents an upgrade to the team’s roster from last season and brings a couple of dimensions they lacked. The Orioles needed a player like Fowler in their outfield this season, and signing him increases Baltimore’s chances of competing for a playoff spot in 2016.